Rashguard

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a rash protection apparel or clothing piece that is used to protect athletes, and more particularly watersports athletes from rashes that occurs surface waters, waves, or surf boards. The rash protection apparel contains a clothing piece with a head opening with a high neck, openings for arms and legs, and an opening of sufficient size for a user to enter the rash protection apparel. The rash protection apparel protects the wearer from rashes especially around the neck area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rash protection apparel and moreparticularly to a rash protection device for water athletes. A rashprotection, generally referred to as a rash guard is a type ofsportswear made of spandex and nylon or polyester. They are used forlight coverage in warm to extreme temperatures for several watersportsincluding surfing, scuba diving, body boarding, and wakeboarding.Besides watersports, rash guards are used in a variety of other sportssuch as baseball, football, and soccer. In these sports, rash guards arealso known as compression shirts.

Rash guards have gained popularity due to its ability to wick moisture,which evaporates sweat faster than normal fabric and the compressionlimits rash. Additionally, rash guards provide protection fromultraviolet light that causes sunburn or may cause skin cancer.

In watersports, rash guards provides protection from rash or irritationcaused by rapid impact with surface water or a wave. In surfing, rashguard provides protection from rash or irritation caused by sliding upon a board. They are also worn under wetsuits to prevent chafing.

However, rash guards in the prior arts are not ideal, especially forfemale athletes. Because a rash guard is a shirt, the rash guard is hardto secure and generally runs up the body when a wet suit is worn overthe rash guard. This lack of security also causes the rash guard to runwhen the surfer is actively surfing. Therefore, the surfer may stillreceive a rash due to the running of the rash guard.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a rash protection apparel and more particularlya rash protection apparel for water sport athletes and people who wearwet suits. More particularly, the rash protection apparel of the presentinvention is ideal for female surfers and wet suit wearers. The rashprotection apparel of the present invention comprises a bathing suitlike clothing piece with a neck area that is equal to or higher than theneck of a wet suit. The higher neck being made of materials that doesnot cause a rash. The rash guard protection apparel of the presentinvention further comprises an opening near the mid-section for ease ofentry and exit.

This opening, on either the front or back mid-section of the rashprotection apparel, is especially ideal for female users of the rashprotection apparel of the present invention since female users generallywear a bathing suit underneath the wet suit and a rash guard over thebathing suit. Alternatively, a female athlete may wear a bikini bottomand a rash guard shirt on top. Male users generally do not wear anythingunderneath the wet suit except for a rash guard shirt.

Additionally, the opening is convenient for female users when they wantto go to the bathroom. Traditionally, the wet suit must be removed andthe rash guard is removed so the user can remove the bathing suit. Whenthe user is ready to put the wet suit back on, especially when it iswet, the wet suit is harder to pull up. Once the wet suit is pulled backup, the rash guard has to be re-tucked underneath the wet suit.

The rash protection apparel of the present invention allows the user toremove the top of the wet suit and then pull down the bottom of the rashprotection apparel of the present invention to use the restroom.Alternatively, the top of the rash protection apparel of the presentinvention can be exited and then the bottom pulled down for using therestroom. Therefore, the need for bathroom assistance is greatlyreduced.

The rash protection apparel of the present invention can also be wornwithout a wet suit and will provide the same protection from surf boardrashes. Unlike conventional rash guards, the rash protection apparel ofthe present invention will stay in place and also eliminates the dangerof a surf board sliding up inside the rash protection apparel of thepresent invention as opposed to conventional rash guards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 Front of rash protection apparel

FIG. 2 Back of rash protection apparel

FIG. 3 Method of using the rash protection apparel of the presentinvention

FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   100 . . . Rash protection apparel-   110 . . . Neck-   120 . . . Arm opening-   130 . . . Leg opening-   200 . . . Opening

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, the rash protection apparel 100 of thepresent invention is now discussed. The rash protection apparel 100 ofthe present invention comprises a neck 110, arm openings 120, legopenings 130, and an opening 200 around the mid-section for entry intothe rash protection apparel 100. The rash protection apparel 100 mayalso be shaped in the form of a one piece bathing suit.

The neck 110 of the rash protection apparel 100 of the present inventionis designed slightly higher than the neck of conventional bathing suits.Ideally, the neck 110 should be slightly higher than the neck of a wetsuit but not higher than the length of the wearer's neck. This alsoprotects the neck of the wearer from the Velcro® used on the wet suit.The neck 110 is also designed such that when the rash protection apparel100 is worn, the neck 110 fits snugly around the user's neck. The neck110 may also comprise gussets, or elastic materials, sewn on the leftand right side of the neck.

The rash protection apparel 100 of the present invention furthercomprises an opening 200 in the middle area of the rash protectionapparel 100. The opening 200 should ideally be on the back of the rashprotection apparel 100. However, the opening 200 may also be located onthe front of the rash protection apparel 100. The opening 200 is ofsufficient size such that a user can enter the rash protection apparel100 through the opening 200 by placing their legs through opening 200and then entering leg openings 130. The user can then place their armsthrough opening 200 and enter their arms through arm openings 120. Theuser can then enter their head through opening 200 and pass their headthrough neck 110. The neck 110 should also be of sufficient size suchthat the rash protection apparel 100 is secure and not loose.

The rash protection apparel 100 of the present invention may be made ofvarious materials and ideally materials that do not cause a rash when itrubs against the wearer's skin. It should also be a material that canstretch but will fit snugly on the wearer. These materials may be nylon,spandex and nylon, polyester, cotton, neoprene or elastic textile.

Furthermore, the inside of the rash protection apparel 100 may be fullylined. The lining may be any materials known in the industry such asthose used in bathing suits.

Referring to FIG. 3, to use the rash protection apparel 100 of thepresent invention, a user enters the rash protection apparel 100 asdescribed above by passing their arms, legs, head and body through hole200 prior to passing these body parts through the respective armopenings 120, leg openings 130, and neck 110. Other means of enteringthe rash guard protection device 100 of the present invention may bepossible.

Once rash protection apparel 100 of the present invention is on, theuser may start surfing or commencing an activity. If the user wants towear a wet suit, the wet suit is worn over the rash protection apparel100.

To use the rash protection apparel 100 when going to the restroom, theuser would remove the wet suit, if one is worn. The bottom section ofthe rash protection apparel 100 is then pulled down and the user maypull their legs out of the leg openings 130. After using the restroom,the user re-enters the legs through opening 200 and then through legopenings 130 and may pull on the wet suit over the rash protectionapparel 100.

Alternatively, a user may exit the upper portion of the rash protectionapparel 100 by exiting the head through neck 110 and pulling the armsout of arm openings 120. The neck and arms are then pulled out ofopening 200. Once the upper body has exited the top portion of the rashprotection apparel 100, the bottom portion may be pulled down prior tousing the restroom.

Another alternative is to pull down the lower portion of the rashprotection apparel 100 until the rear end of the user is over theopening 200. The user can then use the restroom without ever having toexit the rash protection apparel 100.

All the features disclosed in this specification, including anyaccompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternativefeatures serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unlessexpressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise,each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series ofequivalent or similar features.

While specific systems and methods have been disclosed in the precedingdescription, it should be understood that these specifics have beengiven for the purpose of disclosing the principles of the presentinvention and that many variations thereof will become apparent to thosewho are versed in the art.

1. A rash protection apparel, comprising a one-piece garment ofstretchable deformable material comprising: a. two arm openings; b. twoleg openings; c. a neck opening comprising a raised neck that fitssnugly around a wearer's neck and extends above the neckline of aconventional wet suit, but does not extend to the top of the wearer'sneck; and d. An opening in the mid-section of the rash protectionapparel to allow ingress and egress into and out of the garment. 2.(canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The rash protection apparel of claim 1,wherein the opening in the mid-section of the rash protection apparel isof sufficient size such that a user can enter the rash protectionapparel through the opening.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The rash protectionapparel of claim 1, wherein the rash protection apparel is shaped in theform of a one piece bathing suit.
 7. The rash protection apparel ofclaim 1, wherein the opening is on the front of the rash protectionapparel.
 8. The rash protection apparel of claim 1, wherein the openingis on the back of the rash protection apparel.
 9. The rash protectionapparel of claim 4, wherein the opening is on the back of the rashprotection apparel.
 10. The rash protection apparel of claim 1, whereinthe rash protection apparel is made of an elastic material.
 11. The rashprotection apparel of claim 4, wherein the rash protection apparel ismade of an elastic material.
 12. The rash protection apparel of claim 1,wherein the rash protection apparel is In the shape of a one piecebathing suit.
 13. The rash protection apparel of claim 4, wherein therash protection apparel is in the shape of a one piece bathing suit. 14.The rash protection apparel of claim 2, wherein the neck is made of anelastic material.
 15. The rash protection apparel of claim 4, whereinthe neck is made of an elastic material.
 16. The rash protection apparelof claim 1, wherein the inside of the rash protection apparel is lined.17. The rash protection apparel of claim 4, wherein the inside of therash protection apparel is lined.
 18. (canceled)
 19. A method of usingthe rash protection apparel comprising a one-piece garment ofstretchable deformable material, comprising the steps of: a. Providing astretchable, deformable rash protection garment; b. Stepping into anopening in the mid-section of the rash protection apparel such that eachleg extends through each leg opening; c. Pulling up the rash protectionapparel from the legs upward until the opening in the mid-section of therash protection apparel is raised above the wearer's waist so that thearms can enter the arm openings through the opening in the mid-sectionof the rash protection apparel, and said opening in the mid-section israised further above the wearer's head so that the head can enterthrough the neck opening of the rash protection apparel through saidopening in the mid-section. d. Putting an arm through each arm openingof the garment; and e. Placing the head through the neck opening so thatthe neck of the garment extends above the collar of a conventional wetsuit.
 20. The method of claim 19, comprising the additional step ofwearing a wetsuit over the rash protection apparel.